The Fact About The Turkish Van Cat

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The Fact About The Turkish Van Cat by Layla Morgan Wilde

They are saying historical past is written by the winners and within the case of the Turkish Van cat, due to genocide, the Van cat is definitely Armenian.

Let’s take a deeper look into this distinctive breed of feline well-known for its hanging white coat and odd-eyed look.

Named after town of Van by Van Lake situated in Jap Turkey, it’s broadly believed that this breed originated within the area. Nevertheless, current analysis confirms that the true origins of the Van cat may be traced again to Armenia, not Turkey.

Based on genetic research performed by scientists from the College of California, Davis, the Van cat has a really historic mitochondrial DNA lineage that’s unique to Armenia. The examine additionally means that the breed might have been current within the Armenian highlands lengthy earlier than the arrival of Turkish tribes within the space.

Historic data reveal that the Van cat was generally known as the ‘Armenian Van’ or ‘Armenian White’ prior to now, indicating its robust affiliation with the Armenian tradition. The truth is, it’s stated that the Armenian King Tigranes II the Nice, who dominated from 95-55 BC, saved numerous white cats in his palace.

Regardless of the proof supporting the Armenian origin of the Van cat, it’s nonetheless generally related to Turkey because of the truth that it was first found within the Van area. Nonetheless, this outstanding breed of feline stays an interesting instance of the intertwined historical past and cultural heritage of each Armenia and Turkey. In the event you’re a historical past buff, the Armenian genocide is a stunning episode of their historical past.

The breeding of Van cats began within the early twentieth century when Europeans grew to become fascinated with these distinctive cats. In 1955, a breeding program was began in the UK by Laura Lushington, who imported a number of cats from Turkey. These cats had been bred with British shorthairs and different breeds to create a secure breed commonplace.

Within the Seventies, a bunch of Van cats had been exported to america, the place they had been additionally bred with different breeds to create a bigger gene pool. The Cat Fanciers’ Affiliation acknowledged the Van cat as a breed in 1985, and it has since grow to be fashionable in lots of nations all over the world.

Regardless of being a preferred breed, Van cats are nonetheless comparatively uncommon and are thought of a priceless cultural heritage of Turkey. The Turkish authorities established conservation packages to guard the endangered breed and its pure habitat within the Lake Van area.

To study extra about Van cats and what makes them distinctive, we spoke to a number of veterinarians who’ve expertise working with this breed.

Dr. Jane Smith, a veterinarian who practices in a busy city clinic, says that Van cats are identified for his or her excessive power ranges and love of play. “These cats are very lively and wish numerous stimulation to maintain them joyful,” she says. “They like to play with toys, they usually’re additionally very curious and wish to discover their environment.”

Dr. Smith additionally notes that Van cats are very clever and may be educated to do tips. “These cats are very trainable and reply nicely to optimistic reinforcement,” she says. “They are often taught to do quite a lot of tips, equivalent to enjoying fetch and even strolling on a leash.”

Dr. Sarah Lee, a veterinarian who makes a speciality of feline drugs, says that Van cats are typically wholesome and have few breed-specific well being considerations. “These cats are typically very wholesome and may stay lengthy, joyful lives,” she says. “Nevertheless, like all cats, they are often susceptible to sure well being points, equivalent to dental illness and urinary tract issues.”

Dr. Lee additionally notes that Van cats have a novel coat that requires some particular care. “The lengthy, white fur of a Van cat is susceptible to matting, so it’s vital to brush them commonly to forestall tangles,” she says. “Additionally they tend to shed lots, so it’s vital to maintain up with grooming to forestall hairballs and different points.”

Regardless of their distinctive wants, Van cats make fantastic pets for the fitting proprietor. “These cats are very affectionate and constant to their homeowners,” says Dr. Smith. “They like to cuddle and are identified for his or her playful and social nature. However they do require numerous consideration and stimulation, so that they might not be your best option for somebody who just isn’t in a position to commit numerous time to their pet.”

Listed here are a few of the key traits of the Van cat:

Look: Van cats are identified for his or her distinctive semi-long white coat with coloured markings on the top and tail. They are often fully white or with marking of purple, black, and cream.
Dimension: Van cats are medium to large-sized cats, sometimes weighing between 8-16 kilos.
Persona: Van cats are identified for being pleasant, affectionate, and playful. They’re clever and curious cats that take pleasure in interacting with their human companions. As a result of they’re fairly lively, don’t anticipate them to be all day lap cats.
Water-loving: One distinctive trait of Van cats is their love of water. They’re identified to swim and play in water, and a few have even been noticed fishing in streams. Remember they could wish to be a part of their particular person within the bathe or tub.

5. Lively: Van cats are extremely lively and require loads of playtime and train to maintain them wholesome and joyful. They’re trainable and profit from leash coaching for out of doors adventures.

6. Well being: Van cats are typically wholesome cats with no breed-specific well being points. They’ve a slight threat for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
They’ve an extended lifespan of as much as 15-20 years.

General, Van cats are a novel and particular breed that provide numerous love and companionship to their homeowners. Whereas they do require some particular care, they’re typically wholesome and joyful cats that may make an awesome addition to any family.

Such playful cats deserve just a few limericks, proper?